Aziz Jamal
Investigating, unearthing, exploring the idea of "now"
If the eyes are said to be the windows to the soul, what kind of portal does an artwork open? Aziz Jamal creates his works in flashes of inspiration, forgoing the lengthy ruminations of the typical research-based practice. Drawing from the well of creativity impromptu, the artist formulates a narrative that springs from their unconscious mind, first working with hands and fingers to craft sculptural sketches and then moving to paper. These are deep digs along a single vein of inspiration that formulate into artworks with an intrinsic connection to where and when they were conceived, with unique hallmarks that form from a physical, temporal and spiritual connection to a fixed point. The ephemeral sculpture Guest Soap was a scaled replica from the old town of Jeddah, the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia, whose historic walled town preserves a distinctly rich culture that dates from the 16th century. The sculpture was made from moulded soap, glistening and gleaming in delicate contrast to the rough-hewn stone of the city. This let him to produce the ensemble Play and Playground, which won him Ithra's Open Call for emerging artists in 2019.
Animals are avatars for our emotions and anxieties
By virtue of Aziz Jamal's intuitive style of work, we have some insight into his psyche. The dark charcoal of the drawings along with the persistent presence of animals gives an unsettling edge to the artist's work and a hint at some of the familiar anxieties that have formulated in the last year or two. Yet the initial ideas seem to be friendly enough, springing in bright colours and vivid textures from Jamal's mind and into his models. Through the process of drawing, the ideas are distilled into subtle sketches that leave us knocked a little bit off balance. We are caught off guard by the rich smooth skin of the bat, his twinkling eyes and knobbly knuckles that grip tightly to a fluffy toy bunny rabbit. We are stunned by the size of an inverted question mark after three-letter words, asking the viewer to work out if the artwork is referencing the Western canon of Alice in Wonderland, or exotic Eastern Wet Markets and the current crisis that spans the width of the world. These contrasts, these subtle contradictions and hidden connections are present throughout Aziz Jamal's work, and the artist burns bright enough to shine a light through what we take for granted. The effect is such that, for us, the present becomes rooted in reality - at least for a moment.
Text by Jonathan Ferguson
Biography Aziz Jamal
born 1992 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Education
2012-2018 Bachelor of Fine Arts at Eastern Washington University, Cheney (WA), USA
Exhibitions (selection)
2020
I love you urgently, Think Store, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Durational Portrait, ATHR Gallery, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2019
From Within, JAX 1, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Public Private, Al Balad, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Poached, Studio AF, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Zamakan, Ithra, Dharan, Saudi Arabia
2017
Chaise Longue, EWU Gallery, Cheney (WA), USA
Explorations XV, Chase Gallery, Spokane (WA), USA
Collision Course, EWU student gallery, Cheney (WA), USA
Inanimate, Bozzi Gallery, Spokane (WA), USA
Prizes
2019 Ithra's Artist Open Call program
Residencies
2021 BAI Residency Program, Berlin Art Institute, Berlin, Germany
Image Credits: Courtesy of the artist.
Works by Aziz Jamal
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Cat Listening to Ruby
2020 / Charcoal on paper / 23 x 32 cm / 9.1 x 12.6 in (framed)
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sold
Cliche
2020 / Charcoal on paper / 23 x 32 cm / 9.1 x 12.6 in (framed)
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Fly on the Sky
2021 / Mixed media on canvas / 35 x 25 cm / 13.8 x 9.8 in
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I have to go home
2018 / Charcoal on paper / 35 x 75 cm / 13.8 x 29.5 in (framed)
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You deal with them
2018 / Charcoal on paper / 30 x 73 cm / 11.8 x 28.7 in (framed)
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Untitled (Pearls)
2016 / Plastic pearls, wire hanger, prayer mat, oven bake clay, acrylic paint, rope / 62 x 40 x 3 cm / 24.4 x 15.7 x 1.2 in
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Playground
2019 / Soap, resin / Dimensions variable